It seems that Hollywood is starting to catch on to what many viewers already know: Some of the best shows on TV are not on a network; they're streaming over your internet connection. Shows such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black from Netflix have been capturing people's imagination for years, although major awards have often eluded them. But in the first months of 2015, one announcement after another pointed toward a sort of streaming content renaissance.

MetroPCS Announces TV Tuner-Equipped Samsung Smartphone

MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. has plans to release a Samsung smartphone later this year that will be able to tune in to live television broadcasts from local stations. This announcement makes MetroPCS the first cellphone company to offer such a feature.

The projected cost of the TV-capable phones has not been released, nor is it known if MetroPCS plans to charge a monthly access fee for broadcasts. The phones will have an extendable antenna and will receive retransmitted, lower-resolution "Mobile DTV" signals, which are reportedly already in use by 72 stations in 32 cities to reach some portable TV sets.

With 9.1 million subscribers, MetroPCS is the fifth-largest U.S. cellphone company. MetroPCS primarily markets its business to big cities and low-income households with contractless, low flat-rate plans.